Their motto is "A great find? You bet'cha!!" and I must agree with it.
When we got here we had nothing but the best service. We felt part of the family. The
owner showed us how to start fossicking.
--First one can buy either a bucket of dirt for 6$ or a wheelbarrow of dirt for 35$.
--Then one must wash the dirt in a "double strainer", until all is left are medium size
rocks in the first strainer, and small rocks in the second strainer.
--Then we check the first strainer for sapphires, which could be from light yellows to
dark blues in shades, by turning the strainer upside down on a table with a cloth on it.
--The owners were there at all times to help us out. They offered coffee and water. There
was shade and picnic tables.
--Here we can also hire fossicking equipment if you're looking to do this on your own.
But it's a little more difficult and a little less rewarding. One needs to purchase a license
in Emerald and be under the scorching sun for hours on end. And when the sun goes
down, you probably haven't found anything.
--The owner set up, for us, a grand tour of the Sapphire business which you can read
about under Coolamon Mining.
--Yes, we did find some!! The owner, a gemmologist, then examined the sapphires and
divided them into which one we could have cut and which one we couldn't. E.g. Star
Sapphire, Black Spinel, and Cutible Sapphire.
She said that we can either send them by mail, or to bring them back when we are ready
to have them cut, for a very affordable fee. It would take 24 hrs to have them ready, and
even mounted if we desired so. Personally I wouldn't have any problems sending them
via mail, if it happens that I cannot return, as I trust those people completely.
I took mine with me and will wait until the right occasion to have them cut.
For more information about CD Down Under Gems, you can get in touch with them at:
--PH 07 4985 4920
--Mob 0438 155 980
--Mob 0408 780 344
--PO Box 355
Sapphire, QLD
4702
--Email downundergems69@hotmail.com